Your well-being is the most important curriculum in the school of life! 

The YOUniversity

Well-being is a skill and all skills require practice! Fill your well of well-being!

Well-being is a skill that can be cultivated through consistent practice. Just as any skill, whether it be playing a musical instrument or learning a new language, well-being involves dedicated effort and time.

The concept of a “university” being derived from the Latin word “universus” aligns beautifully with the mission of Mindful Kindful YOUniversity (MK YOU). The YOUniversity offers a holistic approach to personal development, emphasizing the importance of understanding oneself fully, including essential self-care. MK YOU provides a platform for you to explore and nurture your entire being—mind, body, and spirit—on your journey through life.

Navigating and flowing through life in healthy, balanced, and positive ways requires a holistic approach that integrates various practices and teachings. By combining science, psychology, nature, and ancient wisdom, you can build a foundation for strength, resilience, health, and happiness.

This holistic approach is crucial in helping you achieve balance and fulfillment in your life. By integrating these practices and principles into daily life, you can learn how to navigate life’s challenges more skillfully and transform your life into harmony with your true nature.

 Mindful Kindful YOUniversity offers diverse and nourishing experiences to support your journey:

Sound Healing Journeys

Drum Circles

Nature Retreats

Offered year-round in Baywood-Los Osos, CA and expanding throughout San Luis Obispo County.

Visitors to the beautiful central coast of CA are welcome!

Public and private sessions or events are offered.

Click on images below to learn more about each one.

LGBTQ friendly

Transformation: The Dragonfly and the YOUniversity

The symbolism of the dragonfly aligns beautifully with the intentions of Mindful Kindful YOUniversity. The dragonfly is often associated with transformation, wisdom, adaptability, resilience, and power. This creature begins its life submerged under water as a nymph, enduring numerous obstacles and challenges before emerging as the revered and beautiful dragonfly. Similarly, as we shed negative or unskillful patterns of limiting thoughts, behaviors, and habits, we are growing our “wings” and becoming empowered to experience a whole new way of living in happiness, health, wisdom, and well-being. This process reflects our true nature.

In 2017, I founded Mindful Kindful YOUniversity, driven by a passion to introduce mindfulness and well-being programs that positively impact the lives of children and adults in our schools and communities. The goal was to address the myriad challenges that youth and adults face, which can interfere with learning, relationships, and overall mental health and well-being.

For several years, Mindful Kindful YOUniversity flourished, providing adult classes and workshops, as well as programs like “Mindful Explorers,” both in-school and virtually, to nurture mindfulness and social-emotional learning skills in young minds. However, in 2022, I needed to return to my previous role as a speech-language therapist in schools. This transition required me to step back from teaching and developing my mindfulness programs, which was a difficult but necessary decision.

Returning to the public education system reminded me of the significant challenges educators face daily. It reignited my commitment to fostering well-being, not just for students but for adults as well. This led to a new focus: offering Sound Journeys, Drum Circles, and Retreats designed for adult self-care, relaxation, connection, and healing.

As of June 2024, I have left public education once again (officially retired!), this time to fully commit to the evolving offerings of YOUniversity. My experiences have underscored the critical importance of self-care and mindfulness in our lives, and I am excited to dedicate myself entirely to this mission, supporting individuals in their journeys towards better mental health and well-being.

~Dee DiGioia